NZXT Phantom 630 Case Review

1. Introduction2. NZXT Phantom 630: Packaging & Bundle3. NZXT Phantom 630: Exterior4. NZXT Phantom 630: Interior5. System Installation6. Testing Methodology and Thermal Performance7. Acoustic Performance8. Closing Thoughts9. View All Pages

The NZXT Phantom 630 is a very good chassis that offers the cooling performance, layout and flexibility that multi-VGA and watercooling users demand.

Fitting large hardware such as XL-ATX and E-ATX motherboards with multiple graphics cards into the Phantom 630 is not a problem. The spacious interior and well-thought design give users plenty of flexibility when opting for their high-end hardware.

Cable management is one of the Phantom 630's biggest strengths. NZXT has excelled yet again to create a cable management system that makes a neat and attractive build very easy to achieve. With plenty of space behind the motherboard tray, one isn't required to spend excessive amounts of time organising the routed cables just so the side panel will fit in place.

By getting rid of the front-mounted pedestal found on the Phantom 820, NZXT has managed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the 630. While some will be displeased by the widespread use of plastic, others will like the angular design that the material helps to create. Our sample's gunmetal colour scheme certainly won't appeal to all, but the matte black and white options are also available.

Cooling performance of the Phantom 630 is good. We are glad to see a company including an appropriate number of fans with its chassis, rather than force users to purchase improved cooling performance. At 100% speed, the quartet of NZXT fans doesn't make for the quietest case on the market, but the 30W fan controller does allow noise output to be varied with required cooling performance.

NZXT's continued support for special additions to its Phantom series of cases is pleasing. A simple SD card reader costs very little to implement, but can be very useful for many users, especially regular photographers. The rear IO LED light is also a thoughtful feature that we continue to find very helpful.

The Phantom 630 does have some disappointing aspects. NZXT's continued use of flimsy drive trays has a negative effect on the security of storage drives mounted in the 3.5″ bays. The omission of a tool-less installation method for PCI cards, such as a cheap set of thumbscrews, is inexcusable and unsatisfactory.

A few slight negatives come from the side panel window. While I like the window and its unique shape, increased visibility around the VGA card area would have been welcomed. I also feel that the window is, to a certain extent, wasted. Without internal lighting, it is difficult to see the components housed inside, especially in a dark environment.

Priced at £142.36 from Scan for all colours, the NZXT Phantom 630 is a good choice for upper mid-range users wanting good build quality, plenty of expansion options, and an excellent cable management system. If you can live without the Phantom 820's multi-channel fan controller, integrated lighting system, and larger size, the NZXT Phantom 630 is an excellent choice at less than £150.

Pros:

• Very good cable management system.
• Plenty of clearance for large hardware.
• Good cooling performance.
• Lots of watercooling options.
• Integrated fan controller.
• Excellent build quality.

Cons:

• Flimsy hard drive trays.
• PCI slots aren't tool-less.
• Routing the 8-pin cable should use a ‘standard' dedicated grommet.

KitGuru says: With strong cooling performance, excellent cable management, and a very flexible internal layout, NZXT's Phantom 630 is a worthy addition to the well-respected Phantom series.

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